Witness protection 'at risk' in reform
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Many vital police services – from witness protection to fingerprint databasing – could collapse as a result a shake-up of crime-fighting, the president of the Association of Police Chief Officers (Acpo) will warn today.
In the opening address to the Acpo summer conference, Sir Hugh Orde will tell politicians they need a "serious reality check" if they wish to fulfil their pledge to change the face of British policing, or risk leaving the public at the mercy of criminals and terrorists.
He will tell guests, including the Home Secretary, Theresa May, that the planned changes have left police in confusion and disarray, at a time when they are faced with their greatest challenge to ensuring public safety in the 180-year history of organised policing. Sir Hugh will demand politicians "bring order to the chaos".
One of the most explosive issues is the "chaos" over what will happen to several key centralised crime-fighting weapons that he says will become "homeless and unfunded" once their parent body, the NPIA, is phased out. "Unless greater clarity emerges in the very near future, I fear that we run the risk of compromising the safety of citizens for reasons of expediency," he will say.
The reforms are among a series of measures introduced by the Home Secretary to shave £2.2bn a year from the police's national budget.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments